WARRINGTON has set out its priorities for improving the health of local people – creating a fairer society and making services accessible for all.
The borough’s public health team has published the annual report of the Director of Public Health, which outlines the main challenges for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of Warrington residents in the coming years.
The report focuses on how health services can be delivered fairly across every community in Warrington to ensure all have the opportunity for growth and prosperity.
It sets out new ambitions for how health and wellbeing can become an integral part of a range of different council services.
And it also focuses on the wider opportunities for prevention in the town, and levels of physical inactivity becoming an increasing challenge for whole population health and wellbeing.
The council and its partners recognise that investing in effective prevention is key to reducing future demand for health and social care services.
A new Warrington-wide strategy – “Let’s Get Moving! Active Warrington” – will support many of the outcomes identified within the report which aims to build stronger, more active communities.
The strategy aims to move away from a pure focus on sport and connect with many more people by encouraging and supporting them to build 30 minutes of physical activity into their lives each week. This could be achieved, for example, by walking, cycling, gardening or spending more time outdoors at a local park.
Director of public health Dr Muna Abdel Aziz said: “The Public Health Annual Report is an important document which sets out how we can work together to ensure all of our communities have access to high quality health services and that health and wellbeing is built into all of the decisions we make.
“The report outlines our commitment to direct resources more effectively towards prevention of problems, rather than on more costly interventions after problems have arisen.
“It also highlights the increasing national importance of the physical activity agenda and its role in promoting healthy, happy communities, which will be supported by the new Active Warrington strategy.”
The report also sets priorities to address further challenges, such as dealing with an increasing older population and tackling health inequalities across the borough.
It will be reviewed, discussed and noted at the council’s executive board meeting on Monday.
